7 More Wonders of the Mormon World

Adam-ondi-Ahman

Photo by Robert A. Boyd

Adam-ondi-Ahman, a settlement located in Daviess County, Missouri, was revealed by the Prophet Joseph Smith to be the location where Adam lived after being expelled from the Garden of Eden (which the Prophet declared to be in Jackson County, Missouri).

Joseph Smith also revealed that three years before Adam's death, he gathered his posterity to Adam-ondi-Ahman to bestow upon them his last blessing. Furthermore, he said Adam-ondi-Ahman will be the location of a future meeting of the Lord with Adam and the Saints, as prophesied by Daniel (Dan. 7:9-14; 21-27; 12:1-3).

map from lds.org

In 1838, between 500 and 1,000 Saints lived in Adam-ondi-Ahman. On October 11 of that year, mobs forced the Saints from nearby DeWitt in Carroll County and then traveled to Daviess County where they burned the homes of Saints and stole their livestock. Church members throughout Daviess County congregated at Adam-ondi-Ahman for safety, though some retaliated in an attempt to defend themselves.

On November 7, 1838, the Missouri militia forced the Saints to surrender their arms and gave them 10 days to evacuate. The Saints abandoned Adam-ondi-Ahman, which then became the property of non-Mormon settlers.

In 1944, Wilford C. Wood purchased 38 acres at Adam-ondi-Ahman for the Church, and 3,000 more acres have since been purchased.